Margaret Freeman Merritt, 88, of Roanoke Rapids died Monday, April 5, 2010 at Halifax Regional Medical Center.

Mrs. Merritt was born July 4, 1921, a native of Halifax County, and daughter of the late Lester Herbert Freeman and Elma Higgins Freeman. Margaret was a graduate of Seaboard High School and Roanoke Rapids School of Nursing. She honorably served her country in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corp as a Lt. (JG) during WWII. Margaret was a life-long member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Roanoke Rapids, a former member of the Pilot Club International, and a former Girl Scout Candy Striper leader. She worked for many years at Roanoke Rapids Hospital and Greensville Memorial Hospital in Emporia, VA. Mrs. Merritt retired from Halifax County Mental Health Center.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William A. Merritt; a sister, Doris F. Cox; two brothers, Arthur M. Freeman and Lester H. Freeman, Jr.; and a granddaughter, Beth Floyd.

She is survived by her two daughters, Patricia M. ''Pat'' Ratliff and her husband, William, of Bennettsville, SC and Virginia ''Ginny'' Fisher and her husband, Ronnie, of Gaston; her granddaughter, Laura Lee Brogden and her husband, Russell, of Kittrell, NC; two grandsons, William Ratliff II and his wife, Jennie, of Darlington, SC and Christopher Ratliff and his wife, Jennifer, of Clio, SC; two great-granddaughters; one great, great-grandson; her sister, Beverly Nevetral and her husband, Cliff, of Petersburg, VA; her brother, Harold B. Freeman and his wife, Ann, of College Park, MD; several nieces and nephews; and two special friends, Alice K. Bobbitt and Beth Ricks, and neighbors, Margaret and Johnnie Lassiter.

Askew Funeral & Cremation Services in Roanoke Rapids is handling the arrangements, where the family will receive friends on Tuesday, April 6, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at All Saints Episcopal Church with Rev. Duncan Jones, Rev. Beverly Huck and Rev. Jim C. Cox officiating. Burial will follow at Crestview Memorial Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in her memory to All Saints Episcopal Church, 635 Hamilton St., Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870.

The flag in front of the funeral home flies at half-staff in honor of Mrs. Merritt’s service to her country.